Department of Juvenile Justice Legislative Budget Request

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Workforce

(#41) Recruit and Retain a Quality Workforce

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•Funding for a role delineation study to determine core competencies for all state and contracted direct care staff and revision of minimum hiring requirements.

•Review and increase of base rates of pay for all direct care staff.

•Development of professional curriculum, continuing education requirements, and establishment of a certification program to include standards, requirements, exams, certification, decertification.

•Special risk retirement benefit for direct service employees who work directly with youth.


	Staff turnover, both at the DJJ and with the providers, is abysmally high. Direct care staff is poorly equipped, poorly trained, and compensation is exceedingly low.
	•DJJ turnover is 26% annually. Private provider turnover is 50%-66%.
	•Starting salaries: DJJ $23,482, private providers $19,780. [Note: DOC staff starts at $30,807]
	•JJ system teacher turnover is as high as 49%.

	Governor Crist recommended 2% base salary increases for select positions. Requiring the agency to develop and submit a plan for distribution.